Giants' Draft Picks Provide Optimism

By FRANK LITSKY

Published: October 30, 1983

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 29—
The Dallas Cowboys, who play the Giants here Sunday, have a 7-1 record, the best in the National Football League. The Giants are 2-5-1, a record surpassing only those of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-8), Houston Oilers (0-8) and Cincinnati Bengals (2-6).

There are as many reasons for the Giants' poor showing as there are people offering reasons. One obvious answer is the limited help so far from the players the Giants drafted last April.

But that may be deceptive. Of the 15 draftees, only one, Ali Haji-Sheikh, has started all season. Only one other, Terry Kinard, has become a starter during the season.

But several others have shown enough improvement to become candidates for starting jobs later this season or next. They are Andy Headen, Kevin Belcher and Leonard Marshall, all part-time players now, and Perry Williams, Karl Nelson and Robbie Jones, all on injured reserve. And the rookie class includes one free agent, Zeke Mowatt, the starting tight end.

Here is a midseason assessment of the Giants' draft:

Round 1 - Terry Kinard, Clemson safety. Replaced Beasley Reece as starting free safety two weeks ago, prompting Reece to leave Giants. Played center-field type of free safety in college and had to learn pass coverage. Tends to be caught out of position. Strong hitter who should improve with experience.

Round 2 - Leonard Marshall, Louisiana State defensive end. Backup defensive end and nose tackle. Reported to training camp at 295 pounds. Now quicker and perhaps stronger at 272 after baby-sitting coaches kept him away from late- night junk-food binges. Strong against run, but still learning pass- rushing techniques. Playing more, which is what he needs most.

Round 3A - Jamie Williams, Nebraska tight end. Waived in training camp. Had the size (6-5 and 230) and perhaps the ability, but did not work hard and showed little aptitude for playing on special teams.

Round 3B - Karl Nelson, Iowa State offensive tackle. On injured reserve with foot injury suffered in training camp. Otherwise, would have made team. Healthy now and a likely starter next year. Big (6-6 and 272), intelligent enough to have been an Academic all-American.

6B - Kevin Belcher, Texas-El Paso offensive guard. Backup guard and may be ready to start. Built himself up since college to 265 pounds. Natural athlete who played offensive guard as a college sophomore and junior, and nose tackle as a senior. Strong pass blocker.

7 - Perry Williams, North Carolina State cornerback. On injured reserve with foot injury in training camp. Solid prospect with size and great speed. Better than Giants thought he would be.

8 - Andy Headen, Clemson linebacker. Backup outside linebacker who has done well in the nickel defense and on special teams. Fierce pass rusher and sometimes overanxious like the younger Lawrence Taylor. Has much to learn, but a quick learner. Excellent athlete whose college positions included quarterback, strong safety and kickoff returner.

9 - Ali Haji-Sheikh, Michigan place-kicker. A gem who won the job from the veteran Joe Danelo in training camp and already has broken Danelo's club record with 14 straight field goals. Strong leg. His ability to get instant height on field goals has led to kickoffs shorter than desired, but he is trying to remedy that.

10 - Choice traded to New England Patriots in 1982 for Billy Matthews, inside linebacker waived this year by Giants.

11B - Clenzie Pierson, Rice defensive end. Waived in training camp. Stringy at 6-7 and 260 and not strong enough for the job.

12A - Robbie Jones, Alabama linebacker. On injured reserve after neck and back injuries in exhibition game. Smart, agile, probable starter in a year or two. Giants would have liked to activate him when Harry Carson and Joe McLaughlin were hurt, but felt sure he would have been claimed.

12C - John Tuggle, California fullback. Backup fullback and solid special-teams player. Last player chosen in draft, partly because he is small (210 pounds) for a fullback. Competitive, good blocker, good pass catcher who plays bigger than his size.

Free Agent - Zeke Mowatt, Florida State tight end. Won a starting job in training camp. Good hands and good-enough speed, but bypassed in the draft because he blocked well in college but was seldom used as a receiver.

''Of the 15 players we drafted,'' said General Manager George Young, ''we still have control of 12. I still feel pretty good about this draft. A lot of it hasn't materialized yet.''